Attachment to electrically operated coin controlled apparatus



3 Sheets-Sheet 1 E. E. CASEY Filed Aug. 22, 1938 rll ATTACHMENT TOELECTRICALLY OPERATED COIN CONTROLLED APPARATUS May 13, 1941.

, 1N VENTOR ERNES T E, @455 Y ATTORNEY.

y 1941- E; E. CASEY 2,241,540

ATTACHMENT TO ELECTRICALLY OPERATED COIN CONTROLLED APPARATUS Filed Aug.22, 1958 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 FEB Col-N INVENTOR.

ERNEST E CAZSEY BYJ a/t A TTORZWE Y.

y 1941- E. E. CASEY 2,241,540

ATTACHMENT TO ELECTRICALLY OPERATED com CONTROLLED APPARATUS Filed Aug.22, 1958 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 Patented May 13, 1941 ATTACHMENT T0ELECTRICALLY QPER- ATED COIN CONTROLLED APPARATUS Ernest E. Casey,Bloomington, 111., assignor to Wi liams Oil-O-Matic Heating Corporation,Blooming-ton, 111., a corporation of Illinois Application August 22,1938, Serial No. 226,014

7 Claims.

ing of the coin will close an electric circuit to automatically dispensea bottle of the beverage. This invention relates to the latter type ofdispensing apparatus and more particularly to an attachment which willallow the depositing of two or more coins in quick succession in thecoin chute and will allow one coin at a time to close the circuit andwithhold the other coins contained in the coin chute, one above theother, until the first coin has caused the dispensing of the bottle andthe circuit broken and then release the next coin to initiate the samecycle while retaining any other coins which may be contained in thechute immediately thereabove.

This particular attachment is most advantageously employed in anautomatic coin controlled electrically operated step-by-step mechanismsuch as disclosed in the co-pending application of Robert R. Witherell,Serial No; 206,115, filed May 5, 1938. In this type of mechanism anelectric motor is employed in connection with a coin receiving,selecting, and positioning mechanism of commercial form. The electricmotor operates a train of gears for operating step-bystep mechanism anda plurality of cams for making and breaking the circuit to the motor oneof which acts in conjunction with the coin receiving mechanism wherebythe depositing of a coin closes a switch in a circuit to initiate theoperation of the motor and after the motor has operated the other camcloses a switch to continue the operation of the motor and the first camreleases the coil to allow the first switch to open.

Inasmuch as a complete disclosure of this type of mechanism is made insaid co-pending application of Robert R. Witherell, only that part whichrelates to this invention is illustrated herein.

Reference is made to the accompanying sheets of drawing which illustratea preferred form of this invention with the understanding that detailchanges may be made without departing from the scope thereof.

In the drawings: Figure 1 is a view in front elevation of the lowerportion of a commercial coin receiving, selecting, and positioningmechanism of commercial form which has been adapted to cause the coin toclose an electric switch in accordance with the disclosure in saidWitherell application, illustrating in dotted lines two coins depositedone immediately after the other in the course of entering the coin chuteleading to the switch.

Figure 2 is a view similar to Figure 1, illustrating the first coin inthe position assumed in closing the switch with the second coinsupported in the chute thereabove and in engagement with the first coin.

Figure 3 is a view partly in end elevation of the coin chute and partlyin section illustrating the cams operated by the motor and the elementactuated by one of the cams for positioning and releasing a coin fromthe position assumed in operating the switch.

Figure 4 is an enlarged fragmentary detailed view illustrating the coinpositioning hinged member in the position assumed to direct a coin toclose the switch and supporting a second coin thereabove.

Figure 515 a similar view illustrating the operation of the memberactuated by the cam to release the first coin and support the secondcoin.

Figure 6 is a schematic diagram illustrating the switches and theirwiring connections to each other and to the motor, showing the firstswitch closed by the reception of a coin and the second switch open.

Figure '7 is a viewsimilar to Figure 6 illustrating the first switchopen by the release of the coin shown in Figure 6 and the second switchclosed by the rotation of its operating cam.

Figure 8 is a detail view in section taken on the line 8-8 of Figure 3,looking in the direction of the arrows, showing the position assumed bythe parts after the pin 38 has been rotated through 108.

Figures 1 and 2 illustrate the lower portion of a coin receiving,selecting and positioning mechanism of commercial form in which twospaced apart plates l and form a part of the mechanism. As shown, a coinis directed to strike upon an anvil 3 forming a part of the commercialmechanism and be directed from there between a pin 4, which has beenadded to the commercial mechanism, and an abutment 5 forming a part ofthe commercial mechanism, into a coin chute formed by a portion 6 alongone edge of the plate 2 which also forms a part of the commercialmechanism and by a member 1 mounted upon a pivot 8 between the plates land 2, such as disclosed in said Witherell application. This member isprovided with an upper angular extension 9 normally held in engagementwith the upper side of the abutment by the weight of an extension I8from that side of the member 1 adjacent the pivot 8 as to cause thelower end. II to form the other side of the coin chute and to directthecoin passing between the pin 4 and upper end 9 of the member 1, asshown in dotted lines in Figure 1, to rotate the lower end II of themember 8 and allow the coin to rest upon the end I2 of a switchoperating lever I3 and rest against the end of a retractible stop I4which projects into the path of the coin, as shown in Figures 2, 3 and4.

When a coin has been received in the position above described and asshown in Figure 2, the rotation of the member 1 causes the angular end 9to restrict the space between the abutment 5 and pin 4 so that as longas a coin remains in engagement with the switch operating lever I3 andretractible stop I4, other coins deflected by the anvil 3 will strikethe pin 4 and end 9 of the member I and be ejected or returned to theoperator, one of which is shown .partly in dotted lines and partly infull lines in Figure 2. It very often happens that an operator willplace two or threaded aperture 4| on the under side of the more coins,one immediately after the other, in

the coin slot so that two or more coins will pass between .the pin 4 andend 9 of the member 1 before the first coin has rotated the member 1into the position shown in Figure 2. v

The switching mechanism operated by the lever I3 is shown in Figures 1and 2. The lever I3 is pivoted and normally weighted 'by the end I5 tomaintain the switchin open position with its free end I2 in position tobe depressed by the weight of the coin to close the switch, as shown inFigure 1. The switching mechanism shown includes a resilient contactmember I6 adapted to be engaged by the end I6 of the operating lever I3and is normally spaced apart from a contact member I1 whereby thedepression of the end I2 of the the contacts to engage as shown inoperating lever will cause and make an electric connection, Figure 2. I

The motor shaft 38 is extended below that portion of the housing I8supporting the motor and is connected by a train of gears G to a gear 3|rotatably mounted upon the sleeve I9. Two cams 29 and 32 are keyed uponthe sleeve I9 for longitudinal movement thereon and are urged in thedirection of the gear 3| and a cylindrical fiber clutch member 33,interposed upon the sleeve I9 between the gear 3| and cam 28, by a coilspring 34 positioned about the sleeve I9, one end of the spring bearingupon the under side of the cam 32 and the other end being anchored to anabutment 35 secured upon the sleeve I9. Rotation is imparted to thesleeve I9 by the frictional engagement of the fiber clutch member 33with the gear 3I and the cam 20, the spring 34 maintaining thefrictional engagement.

The motor housing I8 is adapted to rest upon the top of a dispensingcabinet, the motor actuating a step-by-step mechanism. A rotatableturntable 36 is mounted to support the articles to be dispensedandadvance them step by step to the dispensing aperture of the cabinet. Inthis form the turntable is provided with a scalloped periphery equallyspaced apart between radial slots 31. an indexing pin 38 mounted upon adisc 39 secured to the lower reduced end of the sleeve I9 rotatablymounted and retained upon a stud 40 The step-by-step mechanism includesmotor housing l8.

The pin 38 is located on the disc 39 in such a manner that each time thedisc is rotated the pin is engaged in a radial slot 31 and imparts astep in the movement of the turntable 36. The disc 39 is arranged belowthe periphery of the turntable 36 and in order to lock the turntableagainst movement after it has been diseng ed by the pin 38 a similarplate .42 is provided having an integral depending spacer 43 concentricwith the plate 39 and having a radius concentric with the radius of thearcuate scallops on the turntable 36. The plate 42 is provided with anaperture passing therethrough for receiving the pin 38, and the spacer43 is provided with an arcuate cut-out portion 44 so arranged that whenthe pin 38 is received in the aperture and the pin-carrying disc 39 isrotated, the plate 42 will rotate therewith and be positioned above theperiphery of the turntable 36 with the spacer 43 resting upon the uppersurface of the plate 39 so that when both plates are rotated, thecut-away portion 44 will allow the apex formed between the arcuatescallops of the turntable 36 and the radial slots 31 thereof to passinto said cut-out space 44 and allow the pin 38 to pass into the radialslot 31 and engage the turntable 36 to advance the turntable therewith.The cut-out space 44 will allow the apex formed by the opposite side ofthe radial slot 31 and the contiguous scallop to pass therein-to andafter the pin 38 has passed from engagement after imparting a step tothe turntable 36, the cylindrical surface of the spacing member 43 willwipe over the arcuate surface of the contiguous scallop of the turntableand will prevent further rotation of the turntable until it is againengaged by the pin 38.

The disc 42, when positioned to receive the pin 38, is held with itsspacing member 43 in engagement with the disc 33 by a coil spring 45interposed about the sleeve I3 between the abutment 35 and the upperside of the disc 42. The clutch 33 allows a sliding of the gear 3| inthe event that the turntable becomes jammed before the motor ceased tooperate, thereby preventing damage to the train of gears G or to thestep-bystep mechanism just described. The lifting of the disc 42 out ofengagement with the .pin 38 to remove the spacing member 43 from contactwith the periphery of the scalloped edge of the turntable will allow theturntable to be rotated independently of the step-by-step mechanism inorder to refill the cabinet.

The retractible stop I4 is carried upon the lower end of a member 21hinged at its upper end to the plate I with the stop passing through anaperture provided therefor in a plate 28, ced

apart from plate 2 in continua-tion of plate I, to maintain a coin inposition against plate I when it has entered the coin chute and rotatedthe member 1 to engage and depress the end I2 of the lever I3 of theswitching mechanism A and to be held in this position by the stop I4.The hinged member 21 is preferably held in its normal coin positioningengagement with the plate 28 by a leaf spring 29 secured at one end uponthe plate I. The boss 26 is so arranged on the back of the plate 2 as todirect the free end 25 of the reciproeating rod 2| above a coin which isheld between the stop I4 and end I2 of the lever I3 after it has closedthe switching mechanism and below a second coin which may be restingabove the first com. The rotation of the cam 20 will cause the cycle ofoperation.

end 25 of the rod 2| to pass between the two coins and engage theadjacent side ol. the hinged member 21 to rotate it about its pivot toretract the stop I from engagement with the coin closingthe switchmechanism so that the said coin may, by its own weight, roll over theend l2 and allow the switch mechanism to open while the coin thereaboveis supported by engagement with the member I and the end 25 of the rod2|.

After the operation of the motor has completed the dispensing of abottle, the motor circult is broken and the mechanism is ready foranother coin to operate the lever I3 to again close the circuit. The cam20 is of such conformation that when this stage has been reached it willallow the spring 23 to retract the free end 25 of the rod 2| fromengagement with the upper coin as it allows the hinged member 21 toagain position the stop ll to be engaged by said coin as it rests uponthe end 12, to rotate the switch operating lever iii to close thecircuit through the switching mechanism.

Referring to the schematic diagram of Figure 6 it will be seen that whenthe switch A is closed a circuit will be completed from the commercialline L through the wire 6, contacts I! and I3, wire 41, through themotor M, and by' wire 48 back to the commercial line L. The closing ofthe switch by the coin will then initiate operation of the motor which,through the train of gears, would impart a rotation to the sleeve [9 andcams 20 and 32 thereon. The cam 20 opcrates on the rod 2| in the mannerdescribed above. A second circuit connected in parallel to the firstcircuit is closed by a switch B mounted in the bracket 22 below the rod2| to cause a reciprocating operating member 43 to normally engage thesurface of the cam 32. cludes spaced apart contacts 50 and with wire 52,connecting contact 50 to wire 46 and contact 5| connected by wire 53 towire 41. A connecting member 54 is normally held out of engagement withcontacts 50 and 5| by the springpressed plunger and when the plunger 49is depressed by the cam 32, a connection is made between contacts 50 and5| as shown in Figure 7, establishing a parallel circuit through themotor about open contacts l6 and I1.

When a coin is deposited the stop l4 co-opcrates with the end l2 of theoperating arm [3 oi the switch A to trap the coin, the pressure of thecoin moving the operating arm to close the switch and thereby to operatethe motor. After the energization of the motor the end 25 of the rod 2|will be extended into the coin chute to retain coins therein resting ontop of the coin which has actuated the switch A to energize the motor. Acontinued advance of the end 25 of the rod 2| permits an engagementthereof with the hinged member 21 against the action of the spring 29 tomove the pin l4 out of the coin chute thereby releasing the coin. Priorto the coin being released the second switch B will be closed by the cam32 causing the circuit to be closed through the motor so that therelease of the coin to open the first switch A will not open the circulttherethrough. After the pin 38 has imparted a complete step 01' themovement to the turntable 36 the cam 32 will allow the second switch toopen so that the motor will be deenergized, the apparatus being incondition for a new Should a second coin be held in position above theend 25 of the rod 2|, the withdrawal of the rod will permit the coin toSwitch B inclose the circuit through the switch A and cause a cycle ofoperation as above described.

From the above it is readily seen that the addition of the hinged member21 carrying the retractible stop ll cooperating with the reciprocatingrod 2| when added to a coin receiving. se-, leoting and positioningmechanism will permit an operator to deposit two or more coinssubstantially simultaneously one after the other in the coin chute andnot interfere with the normal operation of the step-by-step mechanism inthe dispensing of the articles contained within the cabinet but willcause a successive number of normal operations in accordance with thenumber of coins deposited.

What I claim is:

1. In a vending machine operated by an electric motor having a camactuated thereby, the motor being controlled by a coin receivingmechanism including a coin chute. a normally open switch in the motorcircuit having an operating arm, a retractable stop mounted on saidmechanism in the path of 'a deposited coin for co-operation with theoperating arm of said switch to trap said coin, the pressure of saidcoin moving the operating arm to close said switch and thereby tooperate said motor, and a movable rod disposed above said operating armfor extension through said coin chute and actuated by said cam duringthe operation of said motor to retract said stop thereby releasing saidcoin, said rod moving into the path of a second coin prior to therelease of said first coin.

2. In a vending machine operated by an electric motor having a camactuated thereby, the motor being controlled by a coin receivingmechanism including a coin chute, a normally open switch in the motorcircuit having an operating arm. a movable stop mounted on saidmechanism, a spring for urging said stop in one direction in the path ofa deposited coin for co-operation with the operating arm of said switchto trap said coin, the pressure of said coin moving the operating arm toclose said switch and thereby to operate said motor, and a movable roddisposed above said operating arm for extension through said coin chuteactuated by said cam during the operation of said motor against theaction of the spring of said stop to move said stop in the oppositedirection thereby releasing said coin, said rod moving into the path ofa second coin prior to the release of said first coin.

3. In a vending machine operated by an electric motor having a camactuated thereby, the motor being controlled by a coin receivingmechanism including a coin chute, a normally open switch in the motorcircuit having an operating arm, a pivotal stop mounted on saidmechanism, a spring for urging said stop in one direction in the path ofa deposited coin for co-operation with the operating arm of said switchto trap said coin, the pressure of said coin moving the operating arm toclose said switch and thereby to operate said motor, and a movable roddisposed above said operating arm for extension through said coin chuteactuated by said cam during the operation of said motor against thetension of the spring of said stop to pivot said stop in the oppositedirection thereby releasing said coin, said rod moving into the path ofa second coin prior to the release of said first coin.

4. In a vending machine operated by an electric motor having a camactuated thereby, the motor being controlled by a coin receivingmechanism including a coin chute, spaced plates forming opposed sides.of said coin chute, a normally open switch in the motor circuit mountedon one of said plates and having an operating arm extendingtherebetween, a retractable stop mounted on one of said plates andextending therethrough in the path of a coin depositedinlthe chute forco-operation with the operating arm oi? said switch to trap said coin,the pressure of said coin moving the operating arm to close said switchand thereby to operate said motor, and a movable rod disposed above saidoperating arm for extension through said coin chute and actuated by saidcam during the operation of said motor to retract said stop therebyreleasing said coin, said rod moving into the path of a second coinprior to the release of said first coin.

5. In a vending machine operated by an electric motor having a camactuated thereby, the motor being controlled by acoin receivingmechanism including a coin chute, apertured spaced plates formingopposed sides of said coin chute, a normally open switch in the motorcircuit mounted on one of said plates and having an operating armextending therebetween, a hinged member pivotally mounted on one of saidplates and having a stop extending through an aperture thereof in thepath of a coin deposited in the chute for co-operation with theoperating arm of said switch to trap said coin, the pressure of saidcoin moving the operating arm to close said switch and thereby tooperate said motor, and a movable rod disposed above said operating armfor extension through said coin chute and actuated by said cam duringthe operation of said motor to engage and to pivot said hinged memberand move said stop out of said chute thereby releasing said coin, saidrod moving into the path of a second coin prior to the release of saidfirst coin.

6. In a vending machine operated by an electric motor having a camactuated thereby, .the motor being controlled by a coin receivingmechanism including a coin chute, apertured spaced plates formingopposed sides of said coin chute, a normally open switch in the motorcircuit mounted on one of said plates and having an operating armextending therebetween, a hinged member pivotally mounted on one of saidplates, a pin constituting a stopextending from said hinged memberthrough an aperture in said plate; a spring normally urging said hingedplate in one direction to position said pin in said chute in the path ofa deposited coin for co-operation with the operating arm 01 said switchto trap said coin, the pressure of said coin moving the operating arm toclose said switch and thereby to operate said motor, and a rod disposedabove said ,operating arm and longitudinally slidable in an aperture ofsaid plates actuated by said cam during the operation of said motor toengage and to pivot said hinged member in an opposite direction .to movesaid stop out 0! said chute thereby releasing said coin, said rod movinginto the path of a second coin prior to the release of said first coin.I a i 7. In a vending machine operated by an elec-- tric motor having acam actuated thereby, the motor being controlled by a coin receivingmechanism including a coin chute, apertured spaced plates formingopposed sides of said coin chute, a normally open switch in the motorcircuit mounted on one of saidplates and having an operating armextending therebetween, a hinged member pivot-ally mounted on one ofsaid plates, a pin constituting a stop extending from said hinged memberthrough an aperture in said plate, a spring normally urging said hingedplate in one direction to position said pin in said chute in the path ofa deposited coin for co-operation with the operating arm or said switchto trap said coin, the pressure of said coin moving the operating arm toclose said switch and thereby to operate said motor, and a rod slidablymounted in an aperture in the other of said plates and actuated by saidcam during the operation of said motor, said rod being normallypositioned outside of said chute and movable therethrough and through anaperture in the other of said plates at a position above said operatingarm to engage and to pivot said hinged member in an opposite directionto move said stop out of said chute thereby releasing said coin, saidrod moving through said chute into the path of a second coin prior tothe release of said first coin.

ERNEST E. CASEY.

